What to expect from our psychologists

It can be exciting to take the first steps towards making positive changes in your life ... but don’t be surprised if you are also feeling a little anxious. It's not uncommon for some clients to talk themselves out of changing the status quo. They might miss appointments, or subtly sabotage the process, tormenting themselves with doubts; perhaps questioning whether they can afford the expense.

Believe it or not, some people who come to therapy are not really ready to change. Perhaps a partner or parent has suggested they need help. They might even think that they are serious about creating a new reality for themselves. But in fact they are still in a phase where they are thinking about change, rather than actually being ready to make the leap. At Psychology Melbourne we have a simple test that can reveal what stage you are at and the most appropriate approach for you.

It can help to ask yourself what changes you would like to make in your life, and what they would mean to you. Our clients constantly tell us that they could not put a price on the changes they have achieved with our psychologists, and that they gained far more than they thought was possible.

At the outset, you should know that you will be in a comfortable, completely confidential setting with a highly-trained, experienced professional who treats you with respect, helps you feel at ease and engages you deeply in the process.

You will be supported by an approach and carefully developed systems that go beyond the standard practice. At Psychology Melbourne, we work hard to ensure that our clients have the best possible start and make continued progress in their therapy.

The match matters

All the research shows that the therapeutic relationship is the single most important factor in the success of counselling. If you don't click with your psychologist, you are more likely to walk away from therapy and give up.

We therefore recommend that your first session should be a personal matching session, in which one of our specially trained psychologists will talk to you about your issues and help you choose a psychologist who is the best fit for you and your issues. While we will accommodate direct referrals to a particular practitioner or an individual preference, we have found that clients who have been matched in this way achieve better outcomes.

Research shows that most therapists routinely overestimate their effectiveness and rate themselves as better than average. They do not routinely measure their performance through client feedback, and if therapy doesn't work, tend to blame the client, labelling them "treatment resistant". At Psychology Melbourne, we practice Routine Outcome Monitoring, tracking patient satisfaction through outcome measures and questionnaires that substantially improve effectiveness of therapy and avoid premature drop-outs. Studies show that when people drop out of therapy, they are unlikely ever to try again.

Expertise matters

Research shows that the best therapists achieve more success with their clients, far more quickly than poor to average therapists.

At Psychology Melbourne, we go out of our way to find outstanding clinicians ... and then we invest heavily in the additional training that helps them become - as a US expert on psychologists' performance puts it - practitioners who "know more, see more and, accordingly, are able to do more."

We have employed doctoral-level practitioners to help us develop courses for psychologists to make up for significant gaps in university training.

Tracking satisfaction

Throughout your therapy, we will track your progress and satisfaction. If there are any problems, we will move quickly to resolve them. The fact that our clients report a consistently high level of satisfaction with their treatment indicates that the trouble we take with our clients is worth it.

Consultations are provided for individuals, couples and families in a calm and friendly environment at Queen Street in the Melbourne CBD. We also have psychologists in Albetr Park, Albury Wodonga, Armadale, Balwyn, Blackburn, East Doncaster, Hoppers Crossing, North Ringwood and Richmond.

Appointment times

Appointments are normally available from 8am - 8pm Monday – Friday and 8am - 4pm on Saturday, or by arrangement. We will try to accommodate your needs around work and commitments, and earlier and later appointments are available, however bookings are essential.

Consultation duration

An initial matching session takes 30 minutes.

Ongoing general consultations run for 50 minutes.

Consultation Fees

The initial matching session costs $95 for individuals and $120 for couples, including free psychological tests.

Ongoing fees vary depending on the type of consultation.

All our psychologists are registered with Medicare, allowing clients with a referral from their GP to receive a substantial rebate. Psychology Melbourne psychologists are also registered with the major private health funds and for Victims of Crime, TAC and Work Cover.

When you call us on 03 9629 1001 or email us, you will be speaking to one of our client services team, who are available to answer your questions and assist you in making an initial booking.